Staircase - contemporary wooden u-shaped open staircase idea in London

Along the teak-paneled kitchen wall, sliding and pocketing doors open to reveal additional work and storage space, a coffee station and wine bar. Architecture and interior design by Pierre Hoppenot, Studio PHH Architects.

Trendy turquoise tile light wood floor and beige floor freestanding bathtub photo in Austin with flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, white walls, an integrated sink, concrete countertops and gray countertops

Adrian Gregorutti
Mountain style built-in desk medium tone wood floor home office library photo in San Francisco with white walls

Beach style kids' bedroom photo in Austin

A young family with a wooded, triangular lot in Ipswich, Massachusetts wanted to take on a highly creative, organic, and unrushed process in designing their new home. The parents of three boys had contemporary ideas for living, including phasing the construction of different structures over time as the kids grew so they could maximize the options for use on their land. They hoped to build a net zero energy home that would be cozy on the very coldest days of winter, using cost-efficient methods of home building. The house needed to be sited to minimize impact on the land and trees, and it was critical to respect a conservation easement on the south border of the lot. Finally, the design would be contemporary in form and feel, but it would also need to fit into a classic New England context, both in terms of materials used and durability. We were asked to honor the notions of “surprise and delight,” and that inspired everything we designed for the family. The highly unique home consists of a three-story form, composed mostly of bedrooms and baths on the top two floors and a cross axis of shared living spaces on the first level. This axis extends out to an oversized covered porch, open to the south and west. The porch connects to a two-story garage with flex space above, used as a guest house, play room, and yoga studio depending on the day. A floor-to-ceiling ribbon of glass wraps the south and west walls of the lower level, bringing in an abundance of natural light and linking the entire open plan to the yard beyond. The master suite takes up the entire top floor, and includes an outdoor deck with a shower. The middle floor has extra height to accommodate a variety of multi-level play scenarios in the kids’ rooms. Many of the materials used in this house are made from recycled or environmentally friendly content, or they come from local sources. The high performance home has triple glazed windows and all materials, adhesives, and sealants are low toxicity and safe for growing kids. Photographer credit: Irvin Serrano

Inspiration for a small rustic guest bedroom remodel in San Francisco

Example of a farmhouse drop-in bathtub design in New York with a drop-in sink, medium tone wood cabinets, wood countertops, multicolored walls, brown countertops and flat-panel cabinets

Large trendy master white tile ceramic tile corner shower photo in New York with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets and white walls

Remodel of a 1960's condominium to modernize and open up the space to the view. Ambrose Construction. Michael Dickter photography.
Inspiration for a contemporary concrete floor and gray floor kitchen/dining room combo remodel in Seattle with brown walls and no fireplace

photography by Thomas Shelby
Example of a classic kitchen design in Louisville with glass-front cabinets, white cabinets and paneled appliances

The design of this home was driven by the owners’ desire for a three-bedroom waterfront home that showcased the spectacular views and park-like setting. As nature lovers, they wanted their home to be organic, minimize any environmental impact on the sensitive site and embrace nature. This unique home is sited on a high ridge with a 45° slope to the water on the right and a deep ravine on the left. The five-acre site is completely wooded and tree preservation was a major emphasis. Very few trees were removed and special care was taken to protect the trees and environment throughout the project. To further minimize disturbance, grades were not changed and the home was designed to take full advantage of the site’s natural topography. Oak from the home site was re-purposed for the mantle, powder room counter and select furniture. The visually powerful twin pavilions were born from the need for level ground and parking on an otherwise challenging site. Fill dirt excavated from the main home provided the foundation. All structures are anchored with a natural stone base and exterior materials include timber framing, fir ceilings, shingle siding, a partial metal roof and corten steel walls. Stone, wood, metal and glass transition the exterior to the interior and large wood windows flood the home with light and showcase the setting. Interior finishes include reclaimed heart pine floors, Douglas fir trim, dry-stacked stone, rustic cherry cabinets and soapstone counters. Exterior spaces include a timber-framed porch, stone patio with fire pit and commanding views of the Occoquan reservoir. A second porch overlooks the ravine and a breezeway connects the garage to the home. Numerous energy-saving features have been incorporated, including LED lighting, on-demand gas water heating and special insulation. Smart technology helps manage and control the entire house. Greg Hadley Photography

Located at the front of the house, the kitchen/diner benefits from ample afternoon light. The flat-panel cabinetry features polished materials that reflect light and give the room its modern industrial edge. The elevator toward the back of the space was added in Spring of 2014. As the center of all daily activity, abundant storage is a must, as are easy-to-clean surfaces. Sticky fingers are bound to rush through the room countless times each day, and by selecting kid-friendly materials, there is freedom in knowing that all messes can be wiped away at the end of the day. Cabinetry: Boffi Photo: Adrienne DeRosa Photography © 2014 Houzz Design: Cortney and Robert Novogratz

Fitch’s kitchen backsplash features Polycor’s 1 cm Ultra-Thin White Cherokee marble slabs as the main focal point. Fitch worked with the architects at Bercy Chen Studio and Austin-based Empire Fabricators to design and install a bookmatched backsplash and thin profile countertop using that ultra thin stone in a honed finish. The project was also completed in large part with Latera Architectural Surfaces who were instrumental in making it a great success. Photo credits: Andrea Calo.

Rustic Modern Sedona Kitchen featuring an exotic green quartzite island slab and natural grain-matched walnut custom cabinetry. A custom dining bench creates versatile dining options, while a copper toned custom vent hood and hardware punctuates the simple yet dramatic palette.

Martin Tessler
Example of a farmhouse medium tone wood floor bedroom design in Calgary with white walls

To open up space and make the kitchen feel larger without knocking down walls, Blackline Renovations made the hall entry from the kitchen to the dining room wider. We also relocated the refrigerator and oven and minimized the depth of the full-height cabinets near the range to give the couple enough space for a beautiful new functional narrow island.

Inspiration for a contemporary kitchen remodel in Sydney

©2014 Kyle Born
Inspiration for a 1960s bathroom remodel in Philadelphia with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets and white walls